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To date we have initiated 13 years of campaigning, bids, proposals, reports, meetings, hearings, conversations and debates with many parents, supporters, officers at the Department for Education & Skills (DfES), local planning officers, Government ministers and peers in Westminster; all of whom have expressed interest and support for our aims.
The next opportunity for us to apply to become a state school will be determined after the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review; we anticipate this will be Spring 2008 at the earliest.
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"Independent schools will find it easier to convert into state schools. to give poorer families the opportunity to send their children to Montessori , Steiner, Muslim and other faith schools;"
Ruth Kelly M.P., Secretary of State for Education, October 2005.
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In 2005 the independent think tank Policy Exchange produced a report looking at the barriers to reforming the state education system. The story of our application to become a state school was studied as part of the research. You can download the whole report here, or just the extract about our school here. We feel the authors have assessed our experience succinctly.
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State Funding
News 25-05-2005
Despite being recognised as a very good school with a distinctive educational approach, our proposal to become a voluntary aided state school has been turned down by the Independent Adjudicator, Canon Richard Lindley. The specified reason for this was his view that we had not provided clear evidence of identified funding for our 10% of the project cost. This has not been of concern to the DfES who have already approved their 90%. We have to accept the decision, but remain convinced that we could make these funds available at short notice.
In his conclusion Canon Lindley states "The proposal to establish a maintained Montessori primary school in Brighton and Hove is attractive". "It is clear from the OFSTED reports that there is a history of good quality nursery provision in the present independent school" and "I have no reason to suppose that a combining of the Montessori approach with traditional pedagogy could not be beneficially enlightening on a mutual basis".
Whilst we are immensely disappointed by this decision we will continue to pursue our aims by all possible routes. At this very early stage these are still under review.
Our vision is and will be to give all children access to Montessori education by establishing a State funded Montessori school and we continue working to achieve this goal.
With regard to the adjudicator's decision and the current situation, We would like to know your reaction, how you feel, and your suggestions. We shall certainly pass on your views to the relevant minister or government advisor at some point in the near future. Please email us!
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State Funding News 2004
In 2004 the school was granted Government funding in excess of £4 million to help realise this vision.
We are now in the process of obtaining permission for the school to move from the independent to the state sector.
We are also applying for outline planning permission for the new school to be built on a greenfield site on an old recreation ground in the Westdene area.
The school has been discussed several times at meetings of Brighton and Hove City Council.